Abstract: A wireless communication circuit configured for communicating over a wireless local area network (WLAN) in its reception area to communicate real-time application (RTA) packets as well as non-real time (non-RTA) packets while utilizing carrier sense multiple access/collision avoidance (CSMA/CA). An RTA scheduling table is utilized for tracking active RTA sessions and managing transmission times for RTA traffic. Scheduling of channel time based on the expected RTA packet arrival time, and rejecting other packet transmissions during the scheduled channel time for RTA packet.

Abstract: A wireless communication circuit configured for communicating over a wireless local area network (WLAN) in its reception area to communicate real-time application (RTA) packets as well as non-real time (non-RTA) packets. RTA packet retransmission is performed with lower latency in response to performing an immediate retransmission scheme that can bypass the need to contend for channel access, and/or without waiting for notifications back from a receiver before channel access. In other instances the RTA packets contend for retransmission access without a contention time window increase.

Abstract: Performing a pre-packet arrival channel contention procedure in stations of a WLAN to enhance support for real-time applications (RTAs) which are sensitive to communication delays. The stations track active real-time application sessions and identify running RTA sessions with respect to communication times, rates and packet sizes. A station attempts to gain access to the communication channel using a pre-packet arrival channel contention process before a packet arrives from the application layer of an RTA, based on information received from the RTA as to what time the packet will arrive to a MAC queue in a MAC layer of the wireless station. Thus, the RTA packets incur less delay while the process can also reduce communications overhead.